Council Decision (CFSP) 2026/2196 of 28 September 2026 on an assistance measure under the European Peace Facility to support the Armed Forces of Cabo Verde
Establishment, objectives, scope and duration
1. An assistance measure benefiting Cabo Verde (the ‘beneficiary’) to be financed under the European Peace Facility (EPF) (the ‘assistance measure’) is hereby established.
2. The objectives of the assistance measure are the following:
(a)
to further strengthen the cooperation on security and defence between the Union and the beneficiary;
(b)
to contribute to enhancing the overall security and defence capacities of the Armed Forces of Cabo Verde to protect the sovereignty of the beneficiary at sea and improve regional maritime security, thereby better protecting maritime vessels and resources, coastal populations and their livelihoods;
(c)
to strengthen the beneficiary’s potential with respect to its participation in the Union’s common security and defence policy operations and its contribution to joint actions in the framework of the Yaoundé Architecture.
3. To achieve the objectives set out in paragraph 2, the assistance measure shall finance the following types of equipment not designed to deliver lethal force, infrastructure and services:
(a)
equipment for the ocean patrol vessel, which is to be provided under the 2025 assistance measure under the EPF;
(b)
an air-base for the Cabo Verdean Coast Guard on the Island of Sal and related equipment;
(c)
workshop facilities for the Cabo Verdean Coast Guard and a base camp for the Cabo Verdean navy seals in Mindelo, island of São Vicente and related equipment;
(d)
training courses in critical domains such as maintenance, logistics and communications;
(e)
operational equipment for the Cabo Verdean Coast Guard including intervention, individual equipment and communication assets;
(f)
air-ground-sea communication systems and equipment for Cabo Verde’s national Maritime Operations Center (COSMAR);
(g)
an aircraft for the Cabo Verdean Coast Guard.
The assistance measure shall also finance related supplies and services, including technical training, where needed.
4. The duration of the assistance measure shall be 48 months from the date of adoption of this Decision.
Financial arrangements
1. The financial reference amount intended to cover the expenditure related to the assistance measure shall be EUR 60 000 000.
2. All expenditure shall be managed in accordance with Decision (CFSP) 2021/509 and in line with the rules for the implementation of revenue and expenditure financed under the EPF.
3. Expenditure related to Article 1(3), points (a) and (d), shall be eligible from the 17 December 2025.
Arrangements with the beneficiary
1. The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (the ‘High Representative’) shall make the necessary arrangements with the beneficiary to ensure its compliance with the requirements and conditions established by this Decision as a condition for the provision of support under the assistance measure.
2. The arrangements referred to in paragraph 1 shall include provisions obliging the beneficiary to ensure:
(a)
compliance of the units of the Armed Forces of Cabo Verde supported under the assistance measure with relevant international law, in particular international human rights law and international humanitarian law;
(b)
proper and efficient use of any assets provided under the assistance measure for the purposes for which they were provided;
(c)
sufficient maintenance of any assets provided under the assistance measure to ensure their usability and operational availability over their life cycle;
(d)
that any assets provided under the assistance measure are not lost or transferred to persons or entities other than those identified in those arrangements.
3. The arrangements referred to in paragraph 1 shall include provisions on the suspension and termination of support under the assistance measure in the event of the beneficiary being found in breach of the obligations set out in paragraph 2.
Implementation
1. The High Representative shall be responsible for ensuring the implementation of this Decision in accordance with Decision (CFSP) 2021/509, and in line with the rules for the implementation of revenue and expenditure financed under the EPF and with the Integrated Methodological Framework for assessing and identifying the required measures and controls for assistance measures under the EPF.
2. The implementation of the activities referred to in Article 1(3) shall be carried out by the Ministry of National Defence of Portugal in respect of points (a), (d) and (g) thereof, and by Expertise France in respect of points (b), (c), (e) and (f) thereof.
Monitoring, control and evaluation
1. The High Representative shall monitor the compliance by the beneficiary with the obligations set out in Article 3. That monitoring shall be used to provide awareness of the context and the risks of breaches of the obligations set out in Article 3, and to contribute to the prevention of such breaches, including violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law by the units of the Armed Forces of Cabo Verde supported under the assistance measure.
2. The post-shipment control of equipment and supplies shall be organised as follows:
(a)
delivery verification, whereby EPF delivery certificates are to be signed by the end-user forces upon transfer of ownership;
(b)
reporting, whereby the beneficiary is to report annually on the activities conducted with the equipment, infrastructure, supplies and services provided under the assistance measure and on the inventory of designated items until such reporting is no longer deemed necessary by the Political and Security Committee (PSC);
(c)
on-site visits, whereby the beneficiary is to grant the High Representative and the EPF auditors access to conduct on-site checks and EPF audits, upon request.
3. The High Representative shall conduct a final evaluation upon completion of the assistance measure to assess whether the assistance measure has contributed to reaching the objectives set out in Article 1(2).
Reporting
During the period of implementation, the High Representative shall provide the PSC with six-monthly reports on the implementation of the assistance measure, in accordance with Article 63 of Decision (CFSP) 2021/509. The administrator for assistance measures shall regularly inform the Facility Committee established by Decision (CFSP) 2021/509 on the implementation of revenue and expenditure in accordance with Article 38 of that Decision, including by providing information on the suppliers and subcontractors involved.
Suspension and termination
1. The PSC may decide to suspend wholly or partially the implementation of the assistance measure in accordance with Article 64 of Decision (CFSP) 2021/509.
2. The PSC may recommend that the Council terminate the assistance measure.
Entry into force
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.
It shall apply in respect of expenditure related to Article 1(3), points (a) and (d), from 17 December 2025.
Source: EUR-Lex (Publications Office of the EU), © European Union, reuse permitted under Commission Decision 2011/833/EU.
